Duplicating apparatus



g 7, 1956 A. J. WRIGHT E'IQAL 2,757,609

DUPLICATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 27. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. E6- 4- ANJ'EL J. WRIGHT Ganomv 7C RasE/vLu/w AT-roRNE Y3 7 1956 A. J. WRIGHT ET AL 2,757,609

\ DUPLICATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 14 TTORNE K5 United States Patent F DUPLICATING APPARATUS Application January 27, 1951, Serial No. 208,135

8 Claims. (Cl. 101-133) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in duplicating apparatus of the type in which copy sheets are imprinted by contact with a master sheet secured to the periphery of a revolving cylinder. More particularly, the invention relates to new and useful improvements in compact, portable, spirit duplicators designated for the reproduction of small quantities of printed material such as duplicate labels, invoices, shipping tickets and the like.

In numerous lines of business it is often necessary to type or print a few lines of written material, several or perhaps a dozen times. This is particularly true in connection with warehouses, manufacturers, wholesalers or other business which, for example, may ship goods in several cartons or containers having the name and address of the customer imprinted identically upon the several shipping labels required for a given shipment. An order may come into a manufacturing establishment or wholesale house and consist of several items. The items may be packaged and shipped in individual cartons each having the same customers address label placed thereon.

Thus, if an order contains twelve items, it may require twelve different shipping labels, one shipping label for each of the cartons. This necessitates the reproduction of only a few lines of written material, viz. the name and the address of the customer, repeatedly for the processing of a single order or job, with requisite time charges thereon for the job.

The usual method of addressing these labels is to either write the customers name and address by hand or by typewriter on each label. Either method is a time and elfort consuming process and increases the cost of processing the transaction. To save time some firms typewrite the customers name and address upon a master copy sheet and then produce the required number of labels from a duplicator in which the master copy sheet is inserted. Most duplicating machines, however, are adapted to receive only standard size sheets such as 8 /2 x 11 inch master copy sheet or aneven larger sheet. This'is so for the reason that most duplicating work is desired in connection with letters, letter-sized forms and the like. Hence, in establishments wherein it is desired to produce several copies of only a few typewritten lines of material, and it is desired to duplicate them on existing duplicating equipment, the cumbersome and expensive method is used in which a few lines comprising an address is'typed on a huge master copy sheet and this is then duplicated on small labels and the like using a regular size duplicating machine. Using this system, to produce several copies of a single name and address upon several shipping labels, necessitates the typing of the name-and address data upon a large master duplicating sheet, inserting this master duplicating sheet into a standard size duplicator and then centering the relatively small shipping labels exactly over the name andaddress typed upon this large master sheet.

This is not only costly and time consuming but requires a certain amount of judgment upon the part of the opefatorbf the machine to produce a neat and'presentable 2,757,609 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 shipping label; one which will be legible and easy to read. Furthermore, the duplicating equipment is large, cannot be easily used in shipping departments or upon shipping desks and involves relatively large capital investment.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a portable spirit duplicator adapted for the efficient reproduction of only a few lines of typewritten or written material.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simplified novel apparatus for duplicating written material which may be operated with one hand, and which is adapted accurately to center the material duplicated on the copy sheet.

A further object of this invention is to provide a duplicating apparatus comprising an impression roller adapted to receive a small master copy sheet containing a few lines of written or typewritten material thereof which is so constructed that the impression roller will assume an initial position for the proper centering upon the copy sheet of the Written or typewritten material to be duplicated.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a duplicating apparatus wherein the fluid reservoir is entirely separate from the impression roll mechanism and wherein the impression roll mechanism may be situated in juxtaposition to said fluid reservoir for the transferral of fluid therefrom.

'It is a further object of this invention to provide a relatively large fluid reservoir adapted for cooperation with a relatively small duplicating mechanism and contact means whereby a prescribed quantity of fluid may be transferred from said fluid reservoir into said impression roll means.

It is also a further object of this invention to provide a portable duplicating apparatus in which the impression roller means and the moistening roller means are contained in a single unit and to separate the duplicating fluid reservoir therefrom but to provide contact means whereby fluid may be transferred from said reservoir to said impression roller unit in prescribed quantities whereby said impression roller mechanism is extremely durable and of reliable operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable duplicating apparatus which may be placed in any position wihout the spilling of fluid therefrom.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for the duplicating of a few lines of material comprising a portable duplicating machine adapted for cooperation with a combined stand and platen, said combined stand and platen having a reservoir therein adapted for cooperation with a wick of the duplicating machine for the introduction of duplicating fluid therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide amachine of the class described comprising a few moving parts and a stand, all of the moving parts thereof being of simple and inexpensive construction and so arranged as to facilitate manufacture, use and assembly thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine for addressing labels having means for readily and conveniently aligning the labels for the travel path of the master copy sheet whereby the addresses will be neatly and accurately placed on their respective labels.

Other and further objects of this invention will be those apparent and inherent in the apparatus as pictured, described and claimed.

This invention will be described with reference to the drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which;

'Figure 1 is plan view of the stand and platen of the instant invention showing a label in position thereon;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the stand and platen of Figure 1 showing in dotted lines the several operating positions of the duplicating machine thereon;

Figure 3 is a section taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a left-end elevation of the stand and platen of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the duplicating machine and shows the impression roller in the initial or static position it assumes when lifted off the stand;

Figure 6 is a view taken along the lines 6--6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view of the duplicating machine and a fragmentary view of the stand and platen, both in section, and showing the reservoir mechanism, and the fiuid containing mechanism of the duplicating machine;

Figure 8 is a plan sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view of the duplicating machine of Figure 7 positioned upon a label and showing the master copy sheet in contact with said label.

The instant invention is particularly adapted to receive the miniature master copy sheet as prepared in my copending application, Ser. No. 203,886, filed January 2, 1951, but it is to be understood that master copy sheets of approximately the same size and character may be prepared by other and different means without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

The apparatus of the instant invention comprises two major cooperating parts: a combined stand and platen, generally designated 10, and a duplicating machine, generally designated 11. The combined stand and platen is best shown in Figures 14, 7 and 9. This stand and platen 10 comprises a generally rectangular plate 10a as is best shown in Figure 1, having a felt or other semi-resilient pad 12 secured adhesively or by other means to the bottom thereof. A layer of rubber, plastic or other resilient material 13 is secured to the top thereof and extends from the front end of the metal sheet 10a to the front edge of reservoir member 14.

Reservoir member 14 can best be formed by casting from metal or plastic but may be made in any suitable manner without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Secured to sheet 100 in the position shown in Figure 1 is metal sheet guide 15 having right angle portions 16 and 17 and secured to sheet 10a by screws 18. Guide 15 is adapted for the initial positioning of the duplicating machine 11 as is shown best by the dotted lines in Figure 1.

Reservoir member 14 is secured to sheet 10a by screws 97 extending upwardly from the bottom of sheet 10a, as is best shown in Figure 1. The reservoir member is pro vided with a trough 19 of the configuration best shown in Figures 1 and 4, which is adapted for holding the labels to be imprinted, or for holding an extra pad of labels, paper clips, or other objects desired to be retained.

In the operation of this device, we find it eminently practical to place a stack of labels to be imprinted in trough 19 and then to place them one by one in contact with paper guide 41, as may best be seen with reference to Figure 1. Thus, in the imprinting of the labels we place one label in contact with guide 41, roll the duplicating machine 11 thereacross, remove the label from the paper guide 41, secure another label from trough 19, place it in contact with paper guide 41 and repeat the process. This, we find, to give an extremely rapid and efficient imprinting of the labels as required. However, others may find it to their desire to use trough 19 for other purposes as mentioned and may position a thin pad of labels in contact with paper guide 41, and it is to be understood that they may readily do so without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Reservoir member 14 is usually cast and has end walls 22 and 23 and front and rear walls and 21 which serve to elevate its upper surface well above the general level of member 10. Slot 24 is provided in the center of member 14 and is adapted to receive bolt 35, that is held by knurled nut 36 with a spacer collar 37 and the head 38 of the bolt underneath the surface of member 14. Knurled nut 36 engages the top of reservoir member 14 and draws spacer 37 in contact with the underside 40 of reservoir member 14, and serves to hold the slotted shank 42 of paper guide 41. The shank 42 extends under the top surface of member 14 through a wide slot in the front wall 20 of member 14.

The slot in shank 42 of the T-shaped paper guide 41 runs at right angles to the slot 24, as shown in Figure l, and the slot (not shown) in the front wall 20 of member 14 is of sufficient width so that the shank 42 can be moved sideways parallel to the position shown in Figure 1, so as to bring bolt 35 to any desired position in slot 24. At the same time slot 43 in shank 42 permits in and out adjustment of shank 42 and hence of paper guide 41. In any position, tightening of knurled nut 36 locks shank 42 in place and holds the entire paper guide 41 in adjusted position.

Member 41 is preferably made of resilient material and has a spring arch at 44 to provide snug contact with stirface 13 and a guide tab 44' at one end adapted for the positioning of a label 45 thereagainst, as is best shown in Figure 1. (Label 45 may be either a single label or a thin pad of labels.)

At the right band edge of reservoir member 14 is a ridge 46 which extends along the rear and the side thereof as is shown in Figure 1. Ridge 46 serves to position the removable duplicating machine 11 when machine 11 is at rest.

Reservoir element 14 is provided with a depression or reservoir 47, as is best shown in Figures 3 and 7. Disposed in the center of reservoir 47 is a boss 48 that is threaded to receive screw 49. The screw 49 has a countersunk head engaging plate 51 which serves as a reservoir cap. Reservoir cap 51 as is shown in Figure 1, is rectangular and has a filler hole 52 at the left end covered by a cap 9 secured to plate 51 by a pin 54 (Figures 1 and 7). A rectangular slot 55 is provided in plate 51 with upwardly and inwardly extending lips 56 which may best be shown with reference to Figures 2 and 7. A fiat strip of felt arch dips into the reservoir 47 and is held between lips 5656 so that only a little of the wick ex tends out through slot 55, and the exposed surface of the wick is trimmed ofi flat and level so as to form a moist surface from which the wick 82 of the duplicating machine 11 may take moistening fluid when the duplicating machine is at rest, as shown in Figure 7.

Our provision of a duplicating apparatus having two individual parts, one containing a reservoir with a wick surface exposed and the other comprising a duplicating machine having a Wick surface adapted to contact the surface of the reservoir wick provides a highly utilitarian and eflicient apparatus. A separation of the reservoir from the duplicating machine proper allows a duplicating machine of extremely small size for it is not necessary to have a large fluid reservoir therein, and at the same time it allows a reservoir which requires only infrequent filling and consequently is an extremely etficicnt apparatus. Moreover, this allows a duplicating machine which may be operated by one hand, turned upside down or around and one which need not be coddled or otherwise gently used. Thus, there is required a very infrequent number of refills for the tiuid reservoir and yet by a quick positioning of the duplicating machine wick in contact with the fluid reservoir wick the machine is always ready for use, providing a highly practical and utilitarian portable duplicator.

Duplicating machine 11 is best shown with reference to Figures 5-9. It has an outwardly smooth U-shaped frame 57 forming an easy handhold, as is best seen with reference to Figures 5-7. The U-shaped frame is open threaded Roller 60 is pivoted in U-frame 7 by a pin 6 having a uniform diameter which isretained by the cooperation of ends 7 and 8 in bores 64 and 65. Bores 64 and 65 are adapted to cooperate withends 8' and 7 respectively of pin 6 so that the pin may be pressed therein, If necessary, the ends 7 and 8 are then peened to retain' the pin therein. Impression roll60 has a central web 66 and center hub 70 which has a bore 71 fitted to the pin. 6 on which the roll 60 rotates. Roll 60 is also provided with a cast-in weight boss 72 as is .best shown. in Figure Sand web 66 has an extending boss 73 which serves to support a catch pin 74 as shown in Figure 8. The face of roll 60 is provided with a bevel at 75, Figure 7, extending entirely across the face of the roll. The bevel 75 extends into a deep radial slot 76 which is shaped as shown in Figures 5, 7 and 9. "the slot provides a central well 77 in which spring finger 78 is located and secured by having the end of the spring anchored in a hole in thewall of slot 77. The spring 78 is adapted to secure thebenuover end of a hectograph master sheet against the wall of slot 7'7.

A smaller moistening roll 80 is provided in the hectograph machine it, said roll being pivoted at 81 in the U-frame 57 in a manner. similar to the pivoting of impression roll 60. Of course, it is to be understood that both of these rolls may be pivoted in U-frame57 in any suitable manner, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, Moistening roll 80 is usually. of a material adapted to receive spirithectographic fluidand retain the same for the moistening of the copy sheet. Usually brass or fiber is used, but absorbant or semiresilient, or other material may be used without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. Roll 80 is moistened by a wick 82 as best shown with reference to Figure 7 which shows the wick curledinto thetforesectionof-the frame 57. The wick 82 is. adapted to engage theiperiphcry of the moistening roll 80 at 83. wThe wick'is-held in place by .a clip having a long. end (85). and a short end (86), both of which engage andv hold wick 82in contact with moistening roll 89... An adjustable screw 87 is provided with a reduced endpassed through a hole in clip 84 and then headed over so as to be rotatably secured thereby to. the clip. By. rotating screw 87 the clip 84 can be moved towards or away-from wick 82, thereby allowing adjustmentof contact-pressure-of wick 82 upon the periphery of roll 80. A bafilemember having a downwardly depending section 88 and a, securing flange section 89 is attached to the top offra'me 57 by bolt-90 and serves-to pocket the upper curledend of wick 82 and also serves as a separator between the wick 82 and the wheel 60 carrying the hectograph sheet 62. On the frame 57 there is provided a weight actuated catch lever 92, that is pivoted to frame 57 at 91. The lever is shaped as shown in Figures 5, 7 and 9, which represent various operating positions of the device. Figure 5 shows the device 11 when it is picked up off of its rest and ready to be used. When so suspended, the right or heavy end 93 of lever 92 falls down until the left end 99 engages the pin which is set into the wall of frame piece 57. See Figures 5 and 8. In this way the down swing of lever 92 is limited, but pin 190 is set so that the lever 92 will swing down (under its own weight) at least far enough so the pin 74 on wheel 60 will clear the detent face 94, and hence wheel 60 is free to turn and if it has not already done so, the wheel will turn until weight 72 cast into the wheel 60 swings to the bottom. This is the starting position when the device is' iaea ntae suetaee' outlined by frame 15, ready to begin its movemeiitto ward the left (Figures 1 and'2). b p I Figure 7 shows the duplicating" machine 11 in its rest position over the reservoir and in a position deteririined by ridge 46. In this position fiat cut lower end of the wick 82 of the duplicating machine 11 is in contact at the flat upper surface 95 of wick 53 of the reservoir. Contained in the reservoir is hectographic spirit fluid 101 which flows through wick 53 into contact withwick ,82 and fills wick 82. Whenever the duplicating rnz't'ch ine 11is in its 'rest position; the fluid 101 moistens roll ages, especially as the roller turns. Weight 72 holds impression roll 60 in 'the position shown in Figures '5 and 7 when the machine is not in use and in thisp'osition locking lever 92 has no effect upon the roller ,62 since'pin 74 clears the end 93 of the lever, A hectog'raphic master sheet, 62 is placed around the impression roll as is shown in Figures 5 and 7 and has the bent ,over end thereof engaged by spring finger 78 in slot 77, as is shown in Figure 5. To make a duplicate label or copy, the dupli; eating machine 11 is lifted from its rest position over the reservoir and is first placed in the' dotted line position (shown at the right in Figure 2) wherein it engages stop 15. This portion is also shown by the dotted line posi; tion for 11, in Figure 1. It is assumed that a label 45 has been placed against guide 41. The machine 11 is then moved across to the left, in Figures 1 and 2 so as to pass over the label 45 which is located by holder 41. This is best shown by the dotand dash line positions of Figure 2. In this movement the duplicating machine ll is sup: ported by the roll 80and by't'he roll 69, roll '80 being in front.- As roll 80 turns is moistened anade psns its film of fluid on the "label 45. Immediately afterwards, the roll 60 with the 'hectograpliic master sheet on it, rotates over the thus moistened paper and makes the desired reproductive impression. Since lever 92 hangs down below duplicator 11 When the whole duplicator 11 is suspended it followsthat lever 92 will be pushed up to the position shown in Figure 9 when the duplicator is placed in position A at guide 15 preparatory to fm'ak; ing the impression stroke., This prepares lever 92 'to form a stop for pin 74 (and. wheel 60) and thus limit the'length of the reproductive stroke to the left. Hence, when the machine 11 reaches the position 3 shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 2, pin 74 on the boss 73 in wheel 60 engages upon face 94 of catch 92 and limitsan'y further rotation of wheel 60, thus limiting forward travel (to the left) of the whole duplicating machine 11. Theh, machine 11 is lifted bodily from the label 45, the labelis removed and machine 11 is either repositioned to contact with limit ridge 46, or is again placed against locating fence 15, preparatory to'imprinting a second label, As the machine is lifted'catch9 2 falls from the position of Figure 9 to the position of Figure 5, and weight 72in wheel 60 rotates wheel, 60 by thefforce of gravityto the position shown in Figure 7, in which the pin 74, clears catch lever 92. The wick 82 in the duplicator 11 will drink in enough duplicator spirit liquid 101 via wick 53 in position of Figure 7 to allow a complete batch of several dozen labels to be made.

Thus, it may be seen that we have provided a new and useful portable spirit duplicating machine which is adapted for the ready addressing of a number of labels and is adapted to be used with great efficiency by one hand and in conjunction with a combined platen and stand which accurately positions the desired printing upon the middle of the label to be addressed.

As many new and useful embodiments of this invention may be had without departing from the spirit and scope thereof it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves specifically to the embodiments disclosed herein.

What we claim is:

1. In a portable duplicating apparatus, an impression roller means including a wick means, a stand for the positioning of said impression roller means thereon, guide means for positioning said roller means upon said stand, said stand having a reservoir therein, and first wick means whereby fluid may be withdrawn from said reservoirthrough said first wick means, said first wick means adapted for cooperation with said wick means located upon said impression roller means for transferring fluid thereto.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by a portion of said stand having a smooth surface thereon adapted to serve as a platen whereby said roller means may be removed from said stand and rolled across said platen portion for the imprinting of material upon copy material placed thereon.

3. In a portable duplicating apparatus, a platen having a smooth surface upon at least a portion thereof, means located upon said platen for positioning a copy sheet in contact with the smooth surface of said platen, guide means positioned with respect to said copy holding means whereby a separate impression roller means may be initially positioned in said guide means for traversing said copy and imprinting material thereon, said copy guide means comprising spring means for urging the bottom thereof in contact with said surface and finger means for positioning said copy thereon, and a reservoir stand located on said platen, said reservoir stand comprising a reservoir for the containment of fluid therein and a wick, said wick having one end extending into said reservoir and the other end extending through the top thereof, an impression roller means having a second wick therein, and said impression roller means adapted to be positioned upon the top of said reservoir whereby the second wick therein is placed in juxtaposition to the wick contained in said reservoir.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that said impression roller means comprises an impression roller, and a transfer roller for transferring fluid from said second wick upon the surface of the uppermost of said copy sheets.

5. A portable duplicating apparatus comprising in combination a platen, copy holding means attached so as to hold copy on the surface of said platen, guide means disposed on said platen for the initial positioning of an impression roller means, said platen having a reservoir A adapted for the containment of fluid therein, said reservoir having a wick extending upwardly therefrom, second guide means on said platen means for positioning an impression roller means over said reservoir whereby the wick means of said reservoir may be in contact with a roller means, fluid transfer roller means, and first wick means for supplying fluid to said fluid transfer roller, all of said means being contained in a portable frame, an independent fluid reservoir separate therefrom, second wick means having one end disposed in said fluid reservoir and the other end extending therefrom and providing an exposed surface adapted for cooperation with an exposed surface of said first wick means whereby fluid may be transferred from said fluid reservoir to said first wick means on said mechanism is predetermined quantities.

7. In a duplicating apparatus, a manually movable member having means therein for supporting a prepared master sheet and whereby the master sheet may be pressed into impression contact with a copy sheet, means for sup porting a copy sheet and fluid supply means independent of said member and comprising a wick portion having an exposed surface, fluid transfer means in said member including a second wick portion mounted to contact said exposed wick surface and receive fluid therefrom when the member is positioned over said exposed wick surface, said fluid transfer means moistening a portion of the surface of the copy sheet in advance of the master sheet when the movable member is passed over the copy sheet to make an impression thereon.

8. A portable duplicating apparatus comprising in com bination a stationary platen and reservoir and a removaa ble impression roller means, said stationary platen being substantially larger than said impression roller means, said stationary reservoir providing a surface upon which said impression roller means may rest when not in use, a first wick having one end positioned in said reservoir and the other end extending through said surface, and a second wick carried by said impression roller means having a portion contacting a transfer roller and an end depending for cooperating abutment with said extending end of saidfirst wick, said impression roller means including said transfer roller, an impression roller and a housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 121,026 Briesen Nov. 14, 1871 274,549 Baldwin Mar. 27, 1883 363,799 Cairns May 31, 1887 555,653 Millert Mar. 3, 1896 627,636 Beckton June 27, 1899 1,507,183 lsaacs et a]. Sept. 2, 1924 2,161,554 Benello June 6, 1939 2,171,061 Ford Aug. 29, 1939 2,527,181 Ford Oct. 24, 1950 2,530,426 Ford Nov. 21, 1950 2,620,499 Dressel Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,632 Great Britain May 17, 1906 8,303 Great Britain May 3, 1892 386,702 Great Britain June 26, 1933 

